Match-case.



i. B. RAMIREZ.

' MATCH CASE.

APPLiCATION FILED MAR. 15, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Fatented May 16, 1916.

1. B. RAMIREZ. MATCH cAs APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, E915.

22 i b1 1 c we 2 I atfoznu o PATENT FFICE.

JUAN 1B. RAMIREZ, 0F WARREN POINT, NEW JERSEY.

MATCH-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed March 15, 1915. Serial No. 14,388.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUAN B. RAMIREZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Varren Point, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Cases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding match cases such as may be carried in the pocket and which are usually employed for advertising purposes, but not necessarily so.

The object of the invention is'to provide a small, convenient match case which will protect the matches while being carried and which is provided with means whereby a match may be removed and ignited and, after the ignition is effected, the body of matches which are secured to a portion thereof, will drop downwardly to dispose the heads thereof out of position for ignition, should the usershield the ignited match by the hand carrying the case.

\Vith this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form ofthe mat ch case orpackage embodying this invention, taken from the rear. Fig. 2 is a perspective view with the inclosing flap open to permit one of the matches to be extracted. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a match case constructed in accordance with this invention and with the parts in open position such as they assume when a match has been withdrawn and ignited; Figdis a longitudinal section of the folded match case taken on the line 4i of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a perspective view taken from the rear showing another form of the invention and with the case in closed posiembodying still another form of the invention; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the case shown in Fig. 9 with the parts in open position such as they assume after a match has been withdrawn and ignited; Fig. 11 is a transverse'section taken on the line 11- 11 of Fig. 9.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in. Figs. 1 to 5, this improved match case is shown constructed of a strip of flexible material which is preferably of thick paper, cardboard or thin metal and which is here shown substantially rectangular in form, being made of a single piece of material, and comprises an approximately plane main body or central portion 2, one end of which is turned or bent over inwardly to form a match carrying fia 3, and the opposite end thereof is folde over to form an inclosing flap 4, these parts being of the usual construction in match cases or packages of this character. Secured to the flap 3 on the inner face thereof are a plurality of matches 5 preferably of the type known as safety, and which usually have wooden or treated paper stems, said stems merging at their inner ends into' a connecting strip 6 from which the individual matches may be readily severed when desired. The heads? of these matches extend outwardly beyond the free end of the flap 3 for a purpose to be described.

The central or body portion 2 of the case is here shown provided with a transversely I extending opening 8 which may be of any suitable or desired length and which is formed by striking out from said body portion 2 a tongue 9. This tongue is bent inwardly and forwardly in a plane parallel with the flap 3, forming between them a pocket 10 in which the connecting strip 6 of the matches is inserted. The matches are held in fixed position in this pocket 10 by means of a staple 11 which is passed through the tongue 9, strip 6, and flap 3 and clenched, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. By forming this tongue 9 at the point shown and forming one side of the pocket 10 thereby, the ordinary stapling machine, which is commonly used in match packages of this character for securing the matches between the flap 3 and the main or central portion 2 thereof, may beemployed.

From the above description it will be obvious that the matches are carried entirely by the flap 3 at one end of the casing and when in closed position they are folded inwardly with their heads housed between the main portion 2 and the inclosing flap 4, as shown in Fig. 4. When it is desired to ignite one of the matches, the flap 4 is opened, the match bent back and broken ofl from the strip 6, and then the head thereof is ignited by rubbing it on a suitable safety or other friction match striking surface 12, disposed on the outer face of the flap 3. After the match has been so ignited and the body of matches is released, being usually grasped by the thumb of the user, and when the flap 4 at the other end of the casing is grasped between the users fingers the weight of the matches will cause the flap 3 carrying said matches to open downwardly into the position shown in F ig. 3, with the heads of said matches disposed some distance below the hand of the user and out of position Where they would likely become ignited by the match shielded in the hollow of the same hand in which the case is grasped. This is quite an-important feature as matches are frequently so shielded by smokers when lighting a cigar or cigarette, and when so used and the package is still held in the same hand which shields the match, the entire body of matches often becomes ignited, and not only wastes the matches but oftentimes burns the hand of the user.

In the form shown in Figs. 6 to 8, the

. body or central portion 2, and the end flaps 3 and 4, are constructed similarly to those shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the only difference in this form of the invention being that the tongue 9 is omitted, and the match strip or strips 6 instead of being secured between the tongue'9 and the flap 3 are secured directly to the flap 3 by a staple 11 which is inserted through a transversely extending aperture 8 formed in the central portion 2 adjacent the flap 3 and this form also permits the use of the ordinary stapling machine employed for connecting .matches to packages or-cases ofthis character. The operation of this case or package is exactly the same as that above described, the matches dropping down into the position shown in Fig. 7 when they have been released after the removal and ignition of a match.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the body 2, and flaps 3 and 4 of the casing are the same as that in the other figures above described, the only difference in this form of the invention being that both the aperture 8 and the tongue 9 are omitted and the strips of matches 6 are secured to the flap 3 by stitches extending through said strips and-through the flap 3, as is shown clearly in Figs. 10 and 11, the operation of the device being the same as that in the other figures.

I cla1m as my 1nvention:

1. A folding match case formed of a plane strip of flexible material substantially rectangular in shape, said strip being bent to form a match carrying flap and an inclosing flap arranged at opposite ends thereof, a plurality of matches having their inner ends merged into. a connecting strip, said strip being secured to the match carrying flap with the match heads extending beyond the free edge of said flap, said match carrying flap being free to open in longitudinal alinement with the body portion of the plane strip when the device is in open position, the weight of the matches serving to cause said flaps to so open on the release thereof.

2. A folding match case formed of a plane strip of flexible material substantially rectangular in shape, said. strip being bent to form a match carrying flap, an inclosing flap, and a central body portion, said body portion having an elongated opening adjacent its junction with the match carrying flap, a plurality of matches having their inner ends merged into a connecting strip, said strip being stapled to the match carrying flap, with the matchheads extended beyond the free edge of said flap and in longitudinal alinement with the central body portion when the case is in open position.

3. A folding match case having an approximately'plane central portion, flaps connected to opposite ends of said centralportion, and a plurality of matches having the ends of their stems engaging the inner face of one of said end flaps 'and stapled thereto, and their heads extending outwardly beyond the free end of said flap, said central portion having an aperture therein adjacent said match carrying flap, with a tongue arranged at the outer end of said aperture and folded over the ends of said match stems and secured thereto by the staple which secures the matches 'to the flap.

4. A folding match case having an approximately plane central portion, flaps connected to opposite ends ofsaid central portion, and a plurality of matches having the ends of their stems engaging the inner face of one of said end flaps, a tongue between which and said flap the match stems are arranged, and a connector passing through said tongue, stems, and flap for securing them together.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JUAN H. RAMIREZ. 

